Taking Care of Your Vehicle Before and After a Collision

Mike • December 13, 2017

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it’s important that you have a trusted auto body shop you can visit.

Although you’re going to have to do plenty of vehicle maintenance yourself, the only way to ensure that your car is completely safe is to visit a professional and legitimate auto body shop. Especially following an accident, if your vehicle needs dents repaired, broken windshields fixed, a new coating of paint, or other cosmetic jobs, auto body repair shops should be your first destination.

From collision repair to bumper replacement, these auto body shoptechnicians know exactly how to fix your car and get it safely back on the road.

Auto body repair is essential for all vehicle owners. A recent survey revealed that an estimated 77% of all vehicles were in need of auto repairs or maintenance in order to prevent serious accidents. Although you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of your car’s engine or how to replace a transmission, you do need to know how to properly care for your vehicle to ensure that it’s safe to be driving out on the roads. Make sure that you’re staying on top of these aspects of vehicle maintenance:

Routine fluid and oil checks — Whenever you check your oil, make sure you (or a skilled technician) are also taking a look at your power-steering and wiper and brake fluids. It’s best to check your oil at least once a month and change it accordingly.

Keeping your tires filled — Far too many drivers neglect to put air in their tires and that results in serious roadway disasters. Flat tires can strike at any moment, but if you make it a habit of paying attention to your tire’s air pressure, you’ll be able to (hopefully) see them coming. Check your air pressure before you get in your car each day, have them rotated every 6,000 miles, and put air in them whenever they look low.

Listening for strange engine sounds — In order to avoid dangerous roadway disasters, you should never get behind the wheel of a car if you notice any strange engine noises. Even a slight tweak can lead to major problems while you’re actually driving. Stay safe and have your vehicle checked before driving it if it sounds strange.

It’s time to start taking better care of your vehicles to ensure roadway safety and avoid costly disasters. If you’re looking for a quality auto body shop Chicago has to offer, contact River North Collision Repair today.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.